Legislators optimistic about school funding

     Area state legislators expressed optimism that the 2019 Iowa legislative session will mean good news for the state’s school districts.

     Sen. Dan Zumbach and Rep. Lee Hein visited the Administrative Board Room to speak with the Monticello School Board and answer questions about the legislative session that was scheduled to begin Jan. 14.

     It was the second-Wednesday-of-the-month slot usually reserved for a work session, but the board used it as a legislative forum instead.

     The two most-discussed topics, not surprisingly, related to schools and school funding. The first was the SAVE statewide penny sales tax for school infrastructure. Currently, the tax has a sunset date of Dec. 31, 2029, which school districts, including Monticello, would like to see repealed or at least pushed back.

     “If it were extended, that would be the most beneficial to Monticello,” Superintendent Brian Jaeger said. “That’s one of the things we’re really hoping for this session.”

     The legislators expressed optimism that the SAVE tax will be extended, although Hein added that some legislators would like to see a requirement that a percentage of the revenues would be used to upgrade safety measures to a minimum standard.

     “I think we have a good chance of getting things done,” Hein said.

     “I think it’s a really good part of school funding, I think it spreads it over a lot more folks than property tax ownership.” Zumbach said.

     “I still like the idea of it having a sunset, because it makes all of us sit back and pay attention, that this is just not an automatic tax. Schools have to sit back and say, ‘This could end, we need to be prudent.’ But I also believe that the sunset needs to be out there a ways, so schools can function.”

     Board member Craig Stadtmueller asked Hein and Zumbach what objections they encounter when talking about SAVE funding.

     Zumbach said some still see it as a tax increase, and Hein added that there are concerns about how it’s being used, such as school districts who fund new athletic stadiums with SAVE money rather than using it for school building construction, upgrades and/or maintenance.

     The other major topic Wednesday was supplemental state aid. Board president Bud Johnson told the legislators “it would be nice to have something (more) to reward staff.”

     “The state budget is going to be pretty healthy,” Zumbach said. “We’re not going to have to deappropriate anything. So my guess is that there will be more money for schools.”

     Another topic that came up was mental health, specifically including mental health programs for school children. Monticello Community School District elementary school counselor Aimee Hospodarsky, who also is president of the Iowa School Counselors Association, said any program that would allow for school-based therapy “would be helpful.”

     Hein said he and other legislators met with Gov. Kim Reynolds in Des Moines Jan. 8, and mental health was one of the topics addressed.

     “She did mention that one of her priorities more than likely will be some sort of a program with funding that will address children’s mental health,” Hein said.

     Zumbach said legislators are aware of concerns, and that “the problem has been recognized.”

     Both legislators talked about their roles in the new session. Hein is in his ninth year as a state representative. Formerly the ag chair in the House, Hein will serve on the Ways and Means Committee this session.

     Zumbach, in his sixth year, will be chairing the ag committee in the Senate, and serve on the budget subcommittee, which he said he enjoys because it brings House and Senate members together for discussion about issues.